Tanix TX28 Rockchip RK3328 4K Android TV Box Review

Tanix TX28 TV Box Review

It has been awhile since Tanix has released a new TV box, and today we have the release of Tanix TX28 Rockchip RK3328 quad core Android 4K TV box. In my previous reviews Tanix became one of my favorite brands because their boxes were so well built and their operating systems were so well rooted that I could use keymapping that couldn’t run on other similar models. So in this review I tested the box in the usual fashion and these are the results I got below. With the release of this latest model for the summer, Tanix is also offering discounts on all their previous models so be sure to check that that out below.

TX28 Hardware

The Tanix TX28 runs on the Rockchip RK3328 quad core CPU, unlike the Tanix TX92 that runs on an Amlogic CPU. The RK3328 is not as powerful as the Amlogic S912 8X CPU, but it does manage to deliver good performance for what is intended for. The RK3328 runs up 1.5GHz on this box, and it managed to get some average benchmark scores.

The GPU is ARM Mali 450MP single core GPU which manages to play 4K videos @60fps with no problems, but struggled to render high graphics Android games. The benchmark score was quite low as you can in the results below. This means that you should play more simple lower graphics games.

It comes with 4GB of DDR3 RAM, and 32GB of internal storage. This is probably the best feature and selling point for this box , as it scored well in the benchmarks, and provides adequate RAM and storage to undertake various tasks.

It dual band WiFi support and Bluetooth 4.0. These performed quite well in the speed test, and with the included external antenna the box was able the hit the maximum speed of my internet package every try, even on the Ethernet LAN port.

TX28 Firmware

The firmware of the Tanix TX28 though simple and functional, I had some concerns with it in its current version. Well its running on the latest Android 7.1.2 Nougat OS and it comes rooted out of the box. However, it does not come with a navigation bar and status bar. In previous models, I could run my keymapping app without issues because they included the latest SuperSU and granted the necessary permissions for me to do so. Well that not happening on this box, well at least for now until they release an updated firmware addressing this problem which I know is coming soon.

TX28 4K and Movie Streaming

The online movie streaming went perfectly, I was able to stream movies in HD quality from my favorite movie streaming streaming APKs and via the Kodi application. The 4K video sample also ran perfectly, I ran them off a USB 3.0 flash-drive on the USB 3.0 port on the box. All the samples were at 60fps and in various formats like HEVC, MKV, TS, and MP4. The samples ran smoothly which I find surprising given the GPU score.

TX28 Gaming

The gaming experience on the TX28 was quite bad, I couldn’t get my key-mapping app to work and the 3D graphics rendering was very slow and stuttered a lot. One should stick to more low end games on this box.

TX28 Benchmark Scores

Antutu – 59281

Geekbench 4 – 527 single-core / 1423 multi-core

Ice Storm Extreme – 2182

RAM Copy speed – 3390

ROM Speed – 103MB/s read and 64MB/s write

SD Reader speed – 19MB/s read / 12MB/s write

Final Thoughts

The Tanix TX28 is a good box streaming movies and TV shows, and it is also quite good for playing 4K video files that you may have. It comes with some good hardware though lacking in the GPU department seeing that is a single core GPU. It has very good WiFi reception and it comes with a USB 3.0 port. I didn’t experience any shutdown or freezing up due to overheating. The main issue I had with this box is the GPU performance, the lack of a navigation and status bar, and as usual the infrared remote. Besides that this box is a good box to buy for watching online streams of movies and TV shows.

I’m very desapointed with Tanix TX28 . I don’t get run the update firmware (message “file corrupted”) e as much Tanix as Gearbest ignored me . I don’t get install newer version Netflix (neither by apk file) with atual firmware and as a result haven’t option download movies and series . Because of this and disregard by Tanix , I’ll never more buy your products .

OK so here’s what to do. Download the latest Tanix28 firmware from the link below, unzip the file into a folder, copy the contents to a flash drive and plugin it into the TX28. In the apps section run Update & Recovery.app, that should auto read the flash and click update. The box will update to the latest firmware. If you are unable to complete this process because the update button is not there, then you will have to run the USB flash method using the ISO rom and flash tools. Let me know.http://www.tanix-box.com/download-view/tanix-tx28-update-firmware/

USB flash method:
1 Download zip file – https://drive.google.com/open?id=18zD9cTOv_mpwCJ8cBpt_tNoTl9-RX1j3
2 Unzip into folder
3 Install driver assistant ON PC
4 Identify the Firmware ISO file, that your firmware. Leave as is
5 Run Factory tool directly from folder( No install needed just run from folder) Click the planet icon and select the second Chinese writing to change it to English
6 Connect TV box to PC via OTG cable to USB 2.0 port ” or try another if necessary)
7 Press and hold reset button, while holding plugin power adapter. You should hear Windows ding dong sound when you plugin a USB device. If not try another USB from the start. it will work
8 In factory tool program, once you hear the ding dong, you should see a device listed under one of the ports in the right panel
9 Select firmware by clicking the firmware button on the left
10 Select the firmware by browsing to the folder where you unzipped the download
11 it will appear in the firmware text field.
12 The run button should now be available to click on, click run and watch the process happen.
13 You will hear a couple of ding dong sounds coming from the PC, that’s normal
14 Once completed you will see success button in green, unplug TX28 and reconnect to TV
15 TV box will hang on the startup screen for a couple of minutes as it flashes to firmware and install apps, then it will startup with new firmware.